Someone gave me a growing kit

Condiment and aromatic plant: fresh leaves and seeds for soups, fish, salads; seeds for liqueurs, jams, vinegar sweets. Digestive medicinal plant, carminative, suppression of hiccups.

Prepare the dill seed box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow?

Sow your dill seeds all year round in the box if you have a well heated and bright room.

You can also sow your dill seeds directly outside from spring to early summer after the danger of frost has passed.

How to sow?

Most dills need sunlight to germinate. Cover (1-3mm) lightly with seedbed and water lightly with a plant sprayer. Keep the soil moderately moist during germination.

At what temperature?

Soil temperature for germination 15-21°C, dill seeds usually germinate in 14-30 days. Sow every 2 weeks from April to the end of July (outdoors)

It is a fairly simple aromatic plant to grow and is productive if given enough heat and regular watering. 

Prepare the basil sowing box

• Open the box and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour 20 cl of water. Allow the water to soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

Where to plant basil? 
 
Basil is an aromatic plant that likes warmth and cannot stand frost. To germinate, it needs a temperature of over 20° and then at least 15° to develop properly.

If the temperature outside is too cold, you will have to sow your basil inside the house or in a greenhouse. Otherwise you will have to wait for the temperatures to warm up outside.

When to plant the seeds? 

• In March you can start sowing basil if you have a well-lit window in the house or a heated greenhouse for sowing.

• In April you can sow basil in a cold greenhouse.

• From May to July you can sow basil directly outside.

• All the rest of the year in a well heated and bright room

How to sow basil in pots for transplanting

As basil is a good transplanter, you can also sow it in the nursery, in pots or in the pot provided, before transplanting your plants. This is particularly useful for starting seedlings early in the season when temperatures are too cold outside. Weeding and monitoring the seedlings is also easier.

• Prepare your pots by filling them with potting soil.

• Sow 4-5 seeds per pot.

• Cover them with a thin layer of potting soil and water gently with a spray bottle every day. 

• Once the plants have a few leaves, plant them in the garden at 20cm intervals or in a window box.

You must be wondering why you have peanut shells in your hands? Well, simply because inside the shell you have the seeds. Unlike the ones you buy in the shops, these are untreated and fertile. So it's up to you!

 Prepare the peanut sowing box

 • Open the tin and empty it of its contents.• Place the peat ring at the bottom of the can and pour in 20 cl of water. Leave to soak for an hour. The peat will expand to 7 times its original volume.  After this process, separate the clumps well.

How to sow peanut seeds?

​Remove the shells and germinate the peanuts in a pot with cotton wool, for example, or in cups of fine potting soil. Germination is rapid and takes place within 10 days in a warm, dry place (ideally 25 - 30 °C).When they have germinated, place them in a pot 2 or 3 cm deep in light soil, more or less rich in organic matter. When the plants have developed, you can put them in the ground in a sunny spot when frosts are no longer a concern, preferably at the beginning of May.Water once a week and weed around the peanut plants.Peanuts grow well in temperatures between 10 and 40°C, but do not survive below 0°C.

​Planting: end of April, beginning of May when there are no more frosts.Harvest: late August to early autumn.Growing cycle: 90 to 150 days.

Flowering of the peanut plant

Flowering takes place one month after transplanting. The cultivation cycle lasts from 90 to 150 days. The flowers will bury themselves to give the peanuts.

Chervil is an annual plant of the umbelliferae family, related to parsley, originating from southern Russia and introduced into Europe by the Romans. 

Chervil is very rich in vitamin C, iron and calcium. It is fortifying and diuretic. It is a good anti-fatigue.

Common chervil grows well in the garden in light, cool soil in partial shade. If it is exposed to too much sun, the chervil will bloom very quickly and will lose all its interest.

Pick it before it blooms to get the most out of its fragrance and don't hesitate to remove the inflorescences as they appear to enjoy this aromatic plant for longer.

Prepare the chervil sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow?

Sow your chervil seeds in March - but 6-8 weeks before the last frost of winter. Can be sown outdoors after any danger of frost. Or indoors at any time of year in a warm, light room.

How to sow?

Cover with about 5-10 mm of seedbed and water lightly with a plant sprayer. Keep the soil moderately moist during germination.

At what temperature?

At a constant temperature of 18 to 21°C, chervil seeds usually germinate in 10 to 25 days. Sow every 3 weeks from April to the end of August.

Preparing the cabbage sowing box

•  Open the tin and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the tin and pour in 20 cl of water. Leave the water to soak in for an hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

When to sow your cabbages ?

Unlike children, which can be sown all year round, cabbages should be sown indoors from February until the end of May. When your plants are about ten centimetres tall, transplant them into the ground or into a large enough window box. You won't be able to get a large cabbage plant out of a tin can, so use it to make a pencil pot or other seedling. :-)

Sowing in the box

• Spread the soil slightly to loosen it

• Sow the seeds

• Mix lightly to distribute them evenly.

• Cover lightly with potting soil.

• Press down and water with a spray bottle.

 
Exposure 
Sun

Watering
Regular

To see them grow ever taller, water your cabbages when the soil starts to dry out. They'll tolerate slightly dry soil for a few days, but don't push Granny into the nettles just yet.

In common parlance, many fruits of Cucurbitaceae, belonging to the genus Cucurbita, are improperly called pumpkins (or squash), without distinguishing true squashes from pumpkins, pumpkins, etc., which belong to different species. It is also the name of the annual plants, cultivars of the species Cucurbita pepo, which give these fruits.

Prepare the pumpkin sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well at the end of the process.

How to make a seedling from pumpkin seeds? 
 
• Where to sow pumpkin seeds?

To grow your pumpkin seedlings, you can use a bucket, the box provided or in the ground.

To transplant your plants, choose a location with well-drained soil. Sandy soil is ideal, but clay soil that does not retain moisture may be suitable.

Avoid areas prone to late spring or early autumn frosts.

• When to sow your pumpkin seeds?

You can start your pumpkin seedlings in April. Only sow your pumpkins in the ground from the end of May to the beginning of June, when the soil is well warmed up.

A plot of land that was first planted with vegetables can be planted with pumpkins that will not be harvested until the autumn if planted in late May or early June.

• How to plant your pumpkins?

In your bucket or box, place one or two seeds at about 3 cm in moistened soil. Do the same in the ground, taking into account the vitality of the cultivars planted: between 2 and 3 m². Overcrowding leads to the production of smaller fruits.

Growing and caring for pumpkins ? 

Pumpkins are warm-season crops that are frost averse and thrive in the heat. However, temperatures above 29°C combined with a lack of moisture (watering) will cause flowers and young pumpkins to abort.

Watering should be regular in the warm season, but not excessive, to prevent pumpkin rot and leaf diseases. Avoid watering the leaves during sunny periods.

Good to know: at the end of the season, if the plant dies prematurely (by disease or early frost), the pumpkin stops growing. If the fruit is ripe, it turns orange, but if it is not ripe enough, it remains green.

Prepare the poppy sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow poppies ?

• September is the best period.

• In March, at the end of March for the coldest regions, as we have to wait for the end of the big cold spells and heavy frosts. 

 How to sow the poppy ?

• Work the soil well, the soil must be fine and well aerated.

• Use a hooked fork or a claw.

• Sow in the air, as regularly as possible. When the operation is successful, it is difficult to see what a human has sown.

Flowering period of the poppy

• Late spring and summer, June to September

Coriander is one of the leading spices in Indian and Asian cuisine. Its leaves and seeds are used to flavour dishes. It grows easily and its small white flowers attract many foraging insects.

Prepare the tin for sowing the coriander

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well after the process.

What type of pot should I use?

For sowing, you can use the pot provided. Then for optimal development, use a 20x20cm pot for 2/3 coriander plants.  You can also grow it in a window box with other herbs with the same requirements: dill, basil, etc.
In the bottom, add a layer of pebbles or clay balls for good drainage. Fill it with potting soil mixed with 1/4 sand.

Location

It is a plant that grows in the sun. But be careful, too much heat will cause it to go to seed quickly. In summer, place it in the south-east if possible, as it will receive less heat in the afternoon.

It must be protected from the wind, which can break its stems and encourage it to go to seed.

When and how to sow it

You can start sowing in March or April. But it must be done indoors, behind a sunny window in the house (or a mini greenhouse).

It does not tolerate frost, so you have to wait until May to sow it outside (April in the south). You can continue sowing until September.

• Sow about ten seeds per pot.

• Cover with a thin layer of potting soil, press down and water with the sprayer.

• Keep the soil moist until the seedlings appear.

• When they have two leaves, remove the excess ones.

Prepare the summer flowers sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well after the process.

How to sow summer flowers seeds?

• Choose a plot of land.

• Remove weeds with their roots

• Rake to remove stones and prepare the furrows that

will receive the seeds.

• Sow the seeds in the air on the surface.

• Pack the floor

• After sowing, water immediately with light rain. In the absence of rain, water the first 4 days for germination, then once a week for a month after sowing.

 Flowering period

 • Flowering will take place 6 to 8 weeks later.

A very hardy mix that can be used in all types of situations.
Composed of Centaureas, Cosmos Bipinnatus and Sulphureus as well as Zinnias, the spring mix brings colour back to your flat or garden...
 
Prepare the box to sow the spring mix
 
• Open the box and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour 20 cl of water. Allow the water to soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

When to plant the seeds? 
Sowing time April - May. Blooms from June until frost.

How to sow the seeds?

• Broadcast the seeds on the surface

• Pack the soil on the surface with the seeds

•Once sowing is complete, water immediately with a light rain. Water with a sprayer for the first 4 days for germination, then once a week without drowning for a month after sowing.

Flowering period

• Flowering will take place 6 to 8 weeks later  

PS: You can transplant your plants into a larger pot or into the ground for optimal development of your flowers.

Prepare the wildflower sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

How to sow wildflower seeds?

• Choose a plot of land.

• Remove weeds with their roots

• Rake to remove stones and prepare the furrows that

will receive the seeds.

• Sow the seeds in the air on the surface.

• Pack the floor

• After sowing, water immediately with light rain. In the absence of rain, water the first 4 days for germination, then once a week for a month after sowing.

Flowering period

• Flowering will take place 6 to 8 weeks later.

Preparing the Mountain Wildflower Sowing Box

• Open the box and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well after the process.

How to sow wildflower seeds?

• Broadcast the seeds on the surface

• Pack the soil on the surface with the seeds

• Once sowing is complete, water immediately with a fine rain using a sprayer. Water for the first 4 days for germination, then once a week for a month after sowing.

Flowering period

• Flowering will take place 6 to 8 weeks later  

PS: You can transplant your plants into a larger pot or into the ground for optimal development of your flowers.

The mother of all the strawberry varieties we know, the wild strawberry makes up for its small size with its unique, flavoursome taste. The wild strawberry is the ancestor of today's strawberry plants. In the Middle Ages, they were widely grown in the gardens of the nobility. During the Renaissance, a much larger strawberry was created by cross-breeding. The French continued to enjoy wild strawberries.

Prepare the box for sowing wild strawberries
• Open the tin and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the tin and pour in 20 cl of water. Leave the water to soak in for an hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

When to plant wild strawberries?

They should be sown indoors in January-February in a room heated to 18-20°C.

How to sow wild strawberry seeds?

Sow your seeds evenly and cover with about 1 cm of finely sieved potting soil in the box with the rehydrated peat.

Press down and then moisten the surface of the mould with a spray bottle. Spray regularly to avoid the mould drying out.

Germination will take about 3 weeks.

When the seedlings have 3 to 4 leaves, transplant them into pots filled with potting compost.

Place these pots outdoors away from direct sunlight and draughts.

Plant them in May and you'll have fruit by June

Prepare the happiness seeds sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well after the process.

How to sow happiness seeds?

• Choose a plot of land.

• Remove weeds with their roots

• Rake to remove stones and prepare the furrows that

will receive the seeds.

• Sow the seeds in the air on the surface.

• Pack the floor

• After sowing, water immediately with light rain. In the absence of rain, water the first 4 days for germination, then once a week for a month after sowing.

 Flowering period

• Flowering will take place 6 to 8 weeks later.  

Prepare the happiness seeds sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well after the process.

How to sow happiness seeds?

• Choose a plot of land.

• Remove weeds with their roots

• Rake to remove stones and prepare the furrows that

will receive the seeds.

• Sow the seeds in the air on the surface.

• Pack the floor

• After sowing, water immediately with light rain. In the absence of rain, water the first 4 days for germination, then once a week for a month after sowing.

Flowering period

• Flowering will take place 6 to 8 weeks later.  

Preparing the giant bean seed box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat ring at the bottom of the can and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

Sowing indoors

You can start growing beans indoors in your living room until the weather is better outside. Sow 2 seeds in the pot 2 to 3 cm deep in a tin can or small pots that you can find in garden centres or yoghurt pots.

Bean seeds germinate 5 to 10 days after sowing when the temperature is at least 11°C. Once the seeds have germinated, keep only one per pot so that it can grow.

For optimal development, transplant the plants to a window box or to your garden.

Sowing and planting outdoors

When sowing bean seeds in a container or window box, take care to sow 1 or 2 seeds every 10cm at a depth of 3cm. Water the soil well and wait for the first leaves to appear.

Harvest
2 to 3 months after sowing, you can enjoy the fruit of your efforts. Harvest the beans one by one, as they grow, by cutting the small stem that attaches them to the main plant.

Harvesting the seeds

Each green bean pod contains seeds that you can harvest and leave to dry. They will be waiting for you to sow next season.

Exposure
Sun

Watering
Regular

To see them grow ever taller, water your bean crops when the soil starts to dry out. They will tolerate slightly dry soil for a few days.

The term "catnip" does not refer to a specific variety of grass, but rather to a medley of different grass-like plants used as a food supplement for cats. Most of the time, this mixture includes nutsedge, phalangrass or different varieties of sown cereals.

Catnip respects the cat's natural needs, promoting digestion and the removal of hairballs. Catnip is ideal for kittens and adult cats. It is very mild and rich in vitamins.

Prepare the box for sowing catnip

• Open the tin and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the tin and pour in 20 cl of water. Leave the water to soak in for an hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

When to plant catnip?

You can sow the seeds all year round indoors at 18-20°C.

How to sow catnip seeds?

• Soak the seeds for 1 to 2 hours

• Place the seeds in the pot and cover with about 2 cm of soil

• Place the pot in a light location and avoid direct sunlight

• Make sure the seeds are always moist but not drowned

The Pink Laurel or Nerium oleander is a shrub in the Apocynaceae family. It is native to the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a shrub around 2 metres tall that grows well in pots. It is one of the most dangerous plants in Europe, with all parts being highly toxic. A single leaf ingested by an adult can be fatal, as it often causes heart problems. So be careful!

 
Prepare the box for sowing the Pink Laurel

• Open the box and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Leave the water to soak in for an hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

When to sow

Laurel should be sown in spring at 16°C, but be patient. The plant is best suited to taking semi-woody stem cuttings in a heated mini-box or in water in autumn. You can also try air layering in April.

Sowing seeds

• Sow the seeds in the box with the rehydrated peat, covering the seeds with just a few millimetres of the peat.

• Water gently and place in a greenhouse at a temperature of 35°C.

• Germination takes a long time; allow 4 to 6 weeks.

NB: for optimum growth, the plants should be transplanted out of the pot when they are between 5 and 10 cm tall. If you're not in season, leave your pots indoors until the first fine days.

Preparing the lavender sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

How to sow lavender seeds?

Sowing lavender is not complicated, not at all, although patience is required!  

• Pack the surface. 

• Place 3 to 5 seeds in the box, not too tightly together to make it easier to thin out. 

• Cover the seeds with 2 to 3 millimetres of potting soil and pack again. 

• Water regularly, but not too much, until emergence, which will occur after about 4 weeks.

When the seedlings are about 3 centimetres long:  

• Thin out the plants, keeping only one per cup. 

• Around October, store them away from cold and light. 

• Keep them lightly watered.

When to plant?

• Plant your seedlings from March-April. 

• Transplant container plants from garden centres in spring from March to May, or in autumn until the end of October.

How to plant lavender?

• Prepare the soil by working it to a spade height, in order to obtain a nice homogeneous soil. 

• The soil should be well drained, very poor and not very acidic. 

• Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball of the container. 

• Place the plant in the hole, scraping the edges of the root ball if the roots are flush. 

• Fill in with garden soil. 

• Pack well with the back of the rake or the foot.

Flowering period

• May to July.

Prepare the daisy sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow the daisy?

Sowing can take place from March to April.

Prepare the daisy sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well at the end of the process.

How to sow the daisy?

Sow:

• Sow lightly and cover with potting soil.

• Mow the seeded area with a plank.

• Water.

Thinning :

• Keep only the sturdiest seedlings, maintain a 30cm space between the plants to allow the daisy foot a sufficiently wide area to develop.

Daisy care

• Watering: throughout the season, on dry soil.

• Folding down: the stems of the daisy flowers faded at the base 

• Diseases: At the end of the season the oidium can reach the flower: a white veil appears on the leaves. To combat this, spray with nettle or horsetail manure.

Open the tin and empty it. If your kit contains potting soil, pour it into the tin without compacting it. If it contains a peat disc, place the disc at the bottom, add 200 ml of water and leave it to absorb for one hour. It expands to seven times its volume. Break up the clumps.

Nettles sting, but this wild plant has its place in the garden and can be used in cooking, for example in soups.

Sow in autumn, spring or summer. Autumn seedlings can survive winter. Scatter the seeds sparsely, very close to the surface. Mist lightly each day without flooding.

The first seedlings should appear after about two weeks. Keep the soil moist until germination, then transplant into a planter or the garden for full development.

Preparation before sowing

Seeds
Soak the seeds for 24 hours in warm water to soften the shell.

Earth

The potting soil to be used will be composed of a first layer of coarse gravel, pozzolana or clay balls (not supplied in the box) in order to regulate watering and absorb excess water, thus preventing rotting. Then cover with some soil (such as the potting soil supplied), not too compact for the roots to settle.

Prepare the box for sowing the palms
 

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

How to sow the palm tree ?

Catering trays are ideal because they are transparent and have a lid. Of course, any other container can be used as long as the lid is pierced as little as possible. The air will then be saturated with almost 100% humidity.

The seeds will then be placed on the ground and slightly buried.

All that remains to be done is to place them close to a source of light and at a temperature of at least 25°C. An ideal location is near a radiator. Once a week, the humidity should be checked, droplets should be deposited on the top. Never allow it to dry, otherwise the inner germ will be damaged and the chances of success will be compromised.

Transplanting the palm tree after germination

Once the seed has germinated and when the seedling has a leaf a few centimetres long, it is gently pulled out and planted in a pot that will be deeper than it is wide. 

The young palm tree is capped for a month with a cut plastic bottle to prevent it from drying out. From spring onwards, it can be placed outside in mid-shade. In the winter, it should be protected because when they are small, palms are sensitive to frost.

Parsley, whether flat or curly, is without doubt one of the most widely used aromatic herbs in France. In the kitchen, parsley can be used to enhance the flavours of a multitude of dishes thanks to its taste, which lends itself to all sorts of combinations. In addition to its "all-purpose" taste, parsley has a number of health benefits that it would be a shame to miss out on.

Characteristics of parsley

• Very low in calories
• Excellent source of iron and vitamin C
• Antioxidant power
• Freshens the breath
• Flavour enhancer.

Prepare the box for sowing parsley

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow?

Sow your parsley seeds all year round in the box if you have a well heated and light room.

You can also sow the seeds finely outdoors from mid-spring in a sheltered position as soon as the soil is workable.

 How to sow?

Cover with about 4-7 mm of seedbed and water lightly with a plant sprayer. Keep the potting soil moderately moist during germination. The seeds can be soaked in warm water for 24 hours before planting.

At what temperature?

At a constant temperature of 21-24°C, parsley seeds usually germinate in 7-30 days. For winter crops, start new seeds in late summer and transplant them to a warm place.

Preparing the pea sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat ring at the bottom of the can and pour 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow?

As early as January when your soil temperature is 15 degrees Celsius

Autumn sowing, from the end of September to the beginning of November, is also possible in a bucket or in the can

Sowing indoors

When you take the peas out of the packet, they are wrinkled and dehydrated. This is normal! A little trick to make them germinate even faster is to soak your peas overnight in a container of warm water the day before sowing. You will notice that your peas will almost double in size!

• Place 3 to 4 peas in the can, spacing them 2 cm apart. Then press the seeds in with your index finger.

• Top up with soil, this time packing it in a little more.

• Finish by watering. This will help to rehydrate the seeds.

• Afterwards, remember to water with a spray bottle regularly to keep the soil moist, but not too much.

For optimal development, transplant the plants into a window box or your garden when they are 7-8 cm tall.

In the open ground, when the plant is about 20 cm tall, it should be staked. This means pulling back a little soil on the stem to keep it straight.

Harvest

When it is time to harvest, the pods will gradually change colour, becoming lighter (or even whitish, as if covered with a powder). When the pods are full and "hard" if you press them, harvest!

The pods are still firmly attached to the plant, and the pea plants are frail and poorly rooted. To harvest peas properly, hold the stem with one hand and pull the pod with the other, to avoid uprooting the whole plant.

Note that not all peas will reach maturity at the same time. Harvesting takes place over a period of 3 to 4 weeks, during which time you must select and pick the fullest pods.

If you harvest too early (pods still soft), you will be disappointed when you open the pods because the peas will be tiny.

Exposure
Sun

Watering
Regular

Prepare the Espelette chilli seed tin

• Open the tin and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the tin and pour in 20 cl of water. Leave the water to soak in for an hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

When to sow?

The Espelette chilli pepper should be sown in a warm place, ideally between 20 and 25°C, between February and March.

Sowing seed

• Place 5-6 seeds in the tin;

• Pack lightly and water in a very fine rain, without moving the seeds.

• Then spray a little water every time the soil dries out.

After a few days, you'll see shoots emerge from the soil, which you'll need to separate from each other when they are 5-6 cm tall, so that you can replant them in the ground or in a larger pot for optimum development of your chillies, which will be ready to harvest between August and October.

NB: for optimum growth, it is essential to transplant the plants outside the pot when they are between 5 and 10 cm tall. If you are out of season, leave your pots indoors until the first fine days.

Open the tin and empty it. If your kit contains potting soil, pour it into the tin without compacting it. If it contains a peat disc, place the disc at the bottom, add 200 ml of water and leave it to absorb for one hour. It expands to seven times its volume. Break up the clumps.

Pines are varied conifers. Young trees need particular attention and protection from pests and sun damage during their first years. Once established, they can grow for decades.

Growing a pine from seed takes patience. You will need toilet paper, a plastic bag, water, a refrigerator and potting soil. The original illustrated step-by-step guide is at https://fr.wikihow.com/faire-pousser-des-pins.

Pot-grown seedlings can be planted at any time, although the hottest summer months require more shade and water to prevent dehydration and sun damage.

Give each tree plenty of space, with no small plants around its base or other trees’ roots nearby. Choose a spot with direct sunlight during the coolest parts of the day. You can start the seedlings in the supplied tin.

A must in every vegetable garden, radishes herald the arrival of spring and are appreciated for their slightly spicy flavour and crunchy texture. If you are not lucky enough to have a garden, radishes are easy to plant in a window box, on a balcony or terrace. Here are a few tips on how to do this successfully.

Prepare the box for sowing radishes

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat ring at the bottom of the can and pour 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow?

Sowing can start as early as February indoors in the box provided or in cups. In the open ground, wait until April or May.

How to sow?

• Thin out the soil

• In the box provided: insert 3 or 4 seeds into the pot at a depth of 1 cm as far apart as possible. You can repeat the experiment several times with the 20 seeds supplied.

• In a window box: make two 1 cm deep furrows and insert the seeds at least 10 cm apart.

• In the ground: make a furrow and insert the seeds 20 cm apart at a depth of 1 cm

For seedlings in the box, transplant your seedlings into a window box after 5 days to facilitate their development.

Exposure ?

A sunny exposure is suitable for radishes, in summer if the sun is too hot, however, shade them to prevent the soil from drying out and the radishes from burrowing!

Harvesting?

• You can harvest and eat your radishes after 18 days.

Prepare the hollyhock sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well after the process.

Sowing of hollyhock :

 In the pot :

• Insert about ten seeds sufficiently spaced apart in the pot at a depth of 1 cm.

• Water in a fine rain regularly to keep the soil moist.

• When one or more plants have germinated, transplant them with the soil into a larger pot or in the ground.

• Flowering usually takes place the year after sowing.

​In the ground :

• Hollyhocks like borders and low walls.

• Keep a distance of at least 30 cm between each seed.

• Sow 2 to 3 seeds per spot.

• Water in a fine rain regularly to keep the soil slightly moist.

• Flowering usually takes place the year after sowing.

​Care of hollyhocks :

The hollyhock, once well established, is virtually maintenance free. It draws the water it needs from the soil and can live in difficult conditions.

• Remove faded flowers as you go along to stimulate the appearance of new flowers.

• Cut off the stems at the end of the season; they will naturally grow back on their own the following year.

• In areas with cooler winters, protect the plant with mulch.

• Note that in windy regions, it is advisable to stake your hollyhocks to prevent them from collapsing.

​PS: All seedlings can be sown in the pot provided.

The Nordmann fir is an impressive Christmas tree thanks to its elegant, abundant and non-stinging foliage. It can be grown in pots. Its wood is also used for construction, the production of paper pulp and some musical instruments. It has also become an ideal tree for public parks and gardens in urban areas.

This tree can reach 60m. Evergreen, abundant, flexible, bright green and shiny. Its cones are cylindrical and about 15 cm long. They are green at first and turn reddish-brown at maturity. Any soil, frost resistant. An exotic species, native to the Caucasus Mountains and northeastern Turkey, where they live at altitudes of 400 to 2000m.
 

Preparing the tree planting box

•  Open the box and empty it of its contents.

• Peat version: place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

Before sowing

The seeds should be cold-stratified at around 5° in the refrigerator for 45-60 days. To do this, put the seeds in a plastic bag in the vegetable compartment of the fridge.

When to sow?

Sowing will be done between February and April, depending on the geographical area and altitude. 

How to sow?

Place the seed 1 cm deep in the box until it germinates. The soil should be moist but not soggy until the seeds have germinated. Water regularly for this purpose with a sprayer.

When the seedling is a few centimeters tall, place it in a larger pot or in the ground. Continue watering for optimal development.

Prepare the box for sowing cherry tomatoes

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.  Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow?

Sow your tomato seeds in March/April, about 6-8 weeks before the last frost of winter. You can also sow your seeds in a very well heated and bright room all year round.

​How to sow?

Cover with 1.5 mm of seedbed and water lightly with a plant sprayer. Once germination has reached maturity, separate the plants and transplant them to a larger pot or to the ground at a distance of 50cm.

​At what temperature?

At a constant temperature of 21-23°C, tomato seeds usually germinate in 7-14 days

​

Preparing the sunflower sowing box

• Open the can and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the box and pour in 20 cl of water. Let the water soak in for one hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume.Separate the clods well after the process.

When to sow the sunflower ?

Sunflowers are sown in April and May, after the frosts. Place a sunflower seed every 10 cm, 3 cm deep.  Space the lines about 15 centimetres apart. As the sunflower roots grow shallow, the large stems are quickly destabilised and blown down by the wind.

For this reason, before sowing, dig furrows about 20 cm deep and set the soil aside. When the plants reach a metre in height, use the extra soil to fill in the furrows and form small mounds around the sunflower plants. Of course, this technique is suitable for small areas.

The different stages of sunflower cultivation

The sunflower germinates very quickly, after 2 to 3 days after germination, the shell of the sunflower seed will finally open completely and then fall, revealing 2 small round "leaves": the 4 cotyledons.

Depending on the variety sown, your sunflower plants will bear a single large flower or several small ones. Observe the stages of their development carefully: it's fascinating! The bulging stem forms a corolla that opens in early summer. At first, the heart of the flower is tiny and then its diameter will increase during the summer.

Préparer la boîte à semer les trèfles

• Open the tin and empty it of its contents.

• Place the peat circle at the bottom of the tin and pour in 20 cl of water. Leave the water to soak in for an hour. The peat will expand by 7 times its volume. Separate the clumps well at the end of the process.

How to sow clover seeds?

​• The cultivation of clover is simple.  Plant the clover seeds in autumn, spring or summer.  The seed germinates under all these conditions. If you sow it in the autumn, it will germinate and survive the winter without problems.  

 • It is a plant that starts out very well in the field because of its resistance. But you can also start it in a container, for example if you live in a flat and want to keep the plant in a pot.  

 • Clover seeds are relatively quick to germinate, the first seeds will germinate in a short time. 

Seedlings should appear after only a few days. 

 • Keep the soil moist until germination.

How to sow the seeds of vitis vinifera vine?

Stratify your seeds. 

Many seeds need a period of cold, wet conditions to begin germination. In the wild, this happens when the seeds remain in the soil during the winter. You can reproduce these conditions by stratification. For grape seeds, the best time to start stratification is in December.

• Prepare a bed for your seeds. Fill an airtight bag or container with a soft material such as damp paper towels or moistened sand, vermiculite or peat. Peat is the best solution for grape seeds because of its antifungal properties that will help remove mould that can damage the seeds.

• Place the seeds on the bed. 

• Cover them with a centimetre and a half of the support used.

• Put the seeds in the refrigerator. The ideal temperature for stratification is between 1 and 3°C, so the refrigerator is a good place to keep your seeds. Leave them there for two or three months. Do not let them freeze

Préparer la boîte à semer les vignes

• Ouvrez la boîte et videz la de son contenu.

• Version terreau : vider l'ensemble du terreau dans la boite. Ne pas tasser le terreau.

• Version tourbe : déposer le cercle de tourbe au fond de la boîte et verser 20 cl d'eau. Laisser l'eau s'imbiber pendant une heure. La tourbe grossira de 7 fois son volume. Bien séparer les mottes à l'issu du processus.

Plant your seeds. 

In early spring, remove the seeds from the fridge and plant them in pots filled with good quality potting soil. Plant the seeds individually in small pots, or in larger pots 4 cm apart.

Make sure your seeds stay warm. For them to germinate properly, the seeds need daytime temperatures of 20°C and night-time temperatures of 15°C. Use a greenhouse or heating mats to keep your seeds at the ideal temperature.

Keep the soil moist, but not wet. Moisten the surface with a water spray when it starts to look dry.

Check the growth. Grape seeds usually take 2 to 8 weeks to germinate.

Transplant your seedlings. 

When your seedlings are 8 cm tall, transplant them into larger pots. For healthy plants, keep your seedlings indoors until they are 30 cm tall, have a good root system and have at least 5 or 6 leaves.